‘She is a disgrace to law, order’: Trump goes after Letitia James, hints at more legal action

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK: President Donald Trump on Friday, August 14, renewed his attacks on New York Attorney General Letitia James, calling her “a disgrace to law, order” during remarks at the Nassau County Police Academy on Long Island.

Trump also criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul and suggested that further action against James could still be pursued. His comments came after federal prosecutors failed twice last year to secure a new indictment against James following the dismissal of the original case against her. 

Trump renews criticism of Letitia James

Speaking to law enforcement officials, Trump criticized the policies of Hochul and other New York Democrats before turning his attention to James.

“But the policies of Hochul and the Democrat colleagues, like crooked, oh, she's the worst. Is she the worst? Crooked Attorney General Letitia James,” Trump said, calling her “a disgrace to law, order, law enforcement,” “the most dishonest” and “a real slob.”

Referring to the previous case against James, Trump said she had “got off on a technicality,” before suggesting the matter could be revisited.

“You know, they had her! She got off on a technicality. They had her, but she got off on a technicality. But let's see what happens here.”

Trump also revisited James’ 2018 campaign for attorney general, when she pledged to pursue Trump and his business interests, pointing to his return to the presidency as evidence that her efforts had not stopped him.

“Remember when she was campaigning and, ‘We will stop Donald Trump!’ She's not supposed to say that! She's the Attorney General! ‘We will stop!’, but she campaigned on, ‘We will stop Donald Trump.’ Well, I think I'm, am I here as president?” Trump said.

James’ office previously brought a civil fraud case against Trump, the Trump Organization and members of his family. Trump has repeatedly argued that the case was politically motivated.

Letitia James mortgage fraud case faces stalled prosecution

Trump’s latest remarks came after repeated federal efforts to pursue criminal charges against James over allegations involving a Norfolk, Virginia, property.

Prosecutors previously accused James of making false statements on mortgage documents by identifying the property as a second residence, which they said allowed her to obtain more favorable loan terms. James pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements to a financial institution and bank fraud.

A federal judge later dismissed the case after ruling that Lindsey Halligan, the Trump-appointed prosecutor who brought the charges, had been unlawfully appointed as interim US attorney. The dismissal was without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of a new prosecution.

The Justice Department subsequently presented the case to a grand jury in Norfolk on December 4, but the panel declined to indict James. Prosecutors then presented the case to another grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, one week later. That panel also declined to issue a new indictment.